The Press., 1887-08-11
|, rfEk TRca IcNa.


 We want rain. Streams are drying up, wells are going dry, and cisterns empty. These unpleasant facts we have to face and acknowledge.
 For some cause, which perhaps is not known, the rainfall in this state has been inadequate to its needs for year or two at least Some sections have been more fortunate than others, but no one part of the commonwealth has had more rain than it ought to have for the general purposes of life. Crops and cattle suffer, and house keepers are perplexed These are times when water gets rated at it's intrinsic value, and common blessing is discovered to be more valuable than gold or silver. No one can picture the woe to community when the water supply fails. Domestic and public tranquility depends largely up- on the rains from heaven and the streams that have their sources far down under meath the earth's surface. Grains cannot be raised, vegetables cultivated, fruits grown, or cattle made paying industry where the water supply is cut off We seem to realize this more in such a season as this.
 It does not help us in our famine to know that in many elsewheres matters are tworse. It but adds to the oppression we feel. sa..s .9.......
 Ordinarily in this part of the state the supply of water for farm and domestic purposes has been ample and of most ex. cellent quality. We have never found | better water anywhere than that we have
 been daily using.
 The underground streams seem to be failing, and whereunto this thing will grow
 no one can tell. s r-5
 4 Just now it is quite natural that alton.
 tion should be generally turned towards artesian wells throughout the state. They
 have come to be necessity, and many communities are. busy making prepara tions to sink them. It is believed that there is all abundance of wate under the
 whole state, but it may be at some depth
 There are counties where good supply is found at moderate depths, say from ont fifty to two hundred feet: and, then lagain, 1t is necessary to sink five times ] that number. It is claimed by our writerl on the subject that it is matter of gOOt } deal of careful study where to sink sue , cessfully for water from these lower under l ground currents. Men are studying th' [ subject carefully, and with view to sup } ply the state with artesian water. 5 Notwithstanding the drought is sever in some parts of the state, the crop will b } very good on the average. The corn yielt would have been immense if the rains ha'
 been in sufficient quantity In these part
 there never was a finer prospect. Othe } grains are going to yield fairly we'll. In ; chinch-b bug is doing some damage in tn sI wheat and corn. He prefers the wheat } and when he can get plenty of it is satis fled to let other grains alone; but driver f from that he betakes himself to the corn field. Oats he has no liking for, and
 strip around the wheat or corn will act a protection. We hear of this bug in Min ' nesota and Dakota, and it is evident he spreading himself generally over the coun t try.
 B The dryness of the season is favorable ) insect ravages. The poor farmer has man ) foes, and it is with great labor he secure t his harvests.
 l The enforcement of the prohibitory la1 ) is making trouble in quarters unexpected Our contractors of prlson labor are cryin r out that they cannot get convicts enoug l to do the work they have contracted, and in consequence, are suffering serious loss
 It appears there are forty less convict g. available than year ago, and whereunt 8 the thing will grow no one can tell. 8 looks as though prohibition, well enforced |, would put an end to this sort of labOl
 
 l. the contractors can or not.
 The enemies of prohibition are an activ
 set of liars but prohibition does prohibit
 and leaves blessings behind it. Itake tn
 following excerpt from an editorial in ou
 State Register, which my eyes have jus - fallen upon
 a ''In at least eighty-fve of the ninety-nin , counties of the state prohibition is enforced ] #e In Des Moines, the largest cit
 in the state, it is enforced. E. # A | over the state life has been made more secure l. and court expenses decreased, and jails mad - empty. Fifty-two of the county jails hay a been closed up for want of tenants, and al t to rent. The district judges and attorney ! the county auditors and their officials repol n the largest benefits of the law. The peOpl
 see the good of the new order, and hail an 2 bless it."
 . Iowa, July 30, 1887. O. P. CHANPLIN.